Published: Sunday, November 3, 2013 at 7:08 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, November 4, 2013 at 9:01 a.m.

A 14-year-old boy was killed in Houma on Sunday afternoon when a wrecked ATV overturned on top of him.

John Farmer, an eighth-grader at Houma Junior High, was one of four passengers in a Polaris utility vehicle that had been racing a four-wheeler on the streets of Barrios subdivision, Houma Police Chief Todd Duplantis said.

The 13-year-old driver was “traveling at a high rate of speed” about 4:30 p.m. when he attempted to turn from Buena Vista Boulevard onto Sherman Street and the Polaris flipped, ejecting a 12-year-old boy and partially ejecting Farmer, he said.

The Polaris landed on Farmer, killing him instantly. The 12-year-old suffered a severe concussion when his head hit the pavement, police said. He remained hospitalized this morning in moderate condition.

The 13-year-old driver of the Polaris is charged with negligent homicide, negligent injury, no driver's license and operating an unsafe vehicle. He was taken to the Juvenile Detention Center where he remained this morning.

Robin Reynolds, 45, who lives on Tulip Drive in neighboring Mulberry subdivision, owned the Polaris, Duplantis said. She was given a summons for contributing to the delinquency of a minor and allowing unlicensed minors to drive. “She gave them the keys,” police said.

Reynolds' son was one of the boys on the four-wheeler, officers said. He was not hurt.

Two other boys, ages 11 and 13, got tickets for driving an unsafe vehicle and driving without a license. The two took turns driving the four-wheeler, police said.

One neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said the boys had been chasing each other with the Polaris and four-wheeler. Others said they were racing.

“There are always kids out here playing around on four wheelers, sometimes much too young, but they normally aren't going that fast,” the woman said. “I was in the kitchen, and I saw them out the window going much faster than normal. They were yelling and laughing, and just as I thought to call the police I heard sirens.”

When she went outside to see what happened, the neighbor said she saw the Polaris lying on its side in the street. Neighbors said the boy suffered severe head trauma.

A neighbor said that underage, unsupervised use of all-terrain vehicles is a persistent problem in the neighborhood where she has lived for 20 years.

“I had an ominous feeling when I saw them going too fast,” she said. “It was a case of a fun afternoon that ended in a tragic situation. I just hope other parents in the area will see this and read about it and not let this happen again.”

Most companies who manufacture ATVs and four-wheelers recommend riders be at least 16 years old and wear helmets. It's against the law to ride them on public roads.

<p>A 14-year-old boy was killed in Houma on Sunday afternoon when a wrecked ATV overturned on top of him.</p><p>John Farmer, an eighth-grader at Houma Junior High, was one of four passengers in a Polaris utility vehicle that had been racing a four-wheeler on the streets of Barrios subdivision, Houma Police Chief Todd Duplantis said. </p><p>The 13-year-old driver was “traveling at a high rate of speed” about 4:30 p.m. when he attempted to turn from Buena Vista Boulevard onto Sherman Street and the Polaris flipped, ejecting a 12-year-old boy and partially ejecting Farmer, he said. </p><p>The Polaris landed on Farmer, killing him instantly. The 12-year-old suffered a severe concussion when his head hit the pavement, police said. He remained hospitalized this morning in moderate condition.</p><p>The 13-year-old driver of the Polaris is charged with negligent homicide, negligent injury, no driver's license and operating an unsafe vehicle. He was taken to the Juvenile Detention Center where he remained this morning.</p><p>Robin Reynolds, 45, who lives on Tulip Drive in neighboring Mulberry subdivision, owned the Polaris, Duplantis said. She was given a summons for contributing to the delinquency of a minor and allowing unlicensed minors to drive. “She gave them the keys,” police said.</p><p>Reynolds' son was one of the boys on the four-wheeler, officers said. He was not hurt.</p><p>Two other boys, ages 11 and 13, got tickets for driving an unsafe vehicle and driving without a license. The two took turns driving the four-wheeler, police said.</p><p>One neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said the boys had been chasing each other with the Polaris and four-wheeler. Others said they were racing.</p><p>“There are always kids out here playing around on four wheelers, sometimes much too young, but they normally aren't going that fast,” the woman said. “I was in the kitchen, and I saw them out the window going much faster than normal. They were yelling and laughing, and just as I thought to call the police I heard sirens.”</p><p>When she went outside to see what happened, the neighbor said she saw the Polaris lying on its side in the street. Neighbors said the boy suffered severe head trauma. </p><p>A neighbor said that underage, unsupervised use of all-terrain vehicles is a persistent problem in the neighborhood where she has lived for 20 years. </p><p>“I had an ominous feeling when I saw them going too fast,” she said. “It was a case of a fun afternoon that ended in a tragic situation. I just hope other parents in the area will see this and read about it and not let this happen again.”</p><p>Most companies who manufacture ATVs and four-wheelers recommend riders be at least 16 years old and wear helmets. It's against the law to ride them on public roads.</p>